Folding chair



Sept. 12, 1933.

R. w. DICK 1,926,840

FOLDING CHAIR Filed Feb. 15, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet l Hill/111 f:

@W 00% ATTORNEY.

R. W. DICK FOLDING CHAIR Sept. 12, 1933.

Filed Feb. 15, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 2,

INVENTOR.

BY MW ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 12, 1933 UNEE Ararat if rszes io FOLDINGonAra Ralph W. Dick, FortWayne, Ind assignor' to Louisltastetter & SonsCompany, Fort Wayne, I

Ind.

Application February 15, 1932. SeritzlNd/Silifiiil 5 Claims. (Cl.155-141) seat and forelegs are folded simultaneouslyagainst the back andrear leg'structure by manipulating the seat. Anotherobject is to provide mechanism operatively connecting the seat and forelegs of a foldingchair with z the back and rear leg structure therefor'so arranged as tobe substantiallyinconspicuous when the chair is extended for use. M

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear in thefollowing description.

An illustrative embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying,drawings, in-

which: i

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a chair in which the invention isembodied, a portion being broken away; i

Fig. 2 is a detail section showing a locking means for the seat andforeleg structure;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the chair ina partially folded position,other positions being indicated by dotted outlines; and

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary frontelevation showing the relative arrangementof the members that connect the seat and forelegs with the back and rearleg structure of the chair. 1

The illustrative embodiment of the invention comprises a rigid frame,constituting the back 1 and rear legs 2 'of a folding chair, a foldingseat 3, a foreleg structure 4, and mechanism, hereinafter described,connecting the seat and foreleg structure'with the main frame in foldingrelation therewith.

The upper portion of the main frame has dis posed therein suitable backrests 5 and the rear legs are connected by cross-pieces 6 in the usualmanner. The seat 3 has side and front frame members 6 and 7respectively, and the forelegs 4 connected by cross-pieces 8 and 9 formthe foreleg structure.

The mechanism for connecting the seat and.

the foreleg structure with the main frame consists of two groups ofmembers, the one being the counterpart of the other, assembledsuitablyfor installation respectively in the right and left hand sides of thechair. In eachassembly are included an anchor plate 19, a hinge bracket11 having an upturned extension 12 which is secured to said plate at theupper end thereof by a pivot 13', a. link 14 pivoted at one end thereofto said hinge bracket and provided at its oppo site end with a pivotedlug 15, a lever 16 pivoted. at one end therecf'to said hinge bracket ata point thereon spaced rearwardly from the inner endof saidlink-andprovided at its opposite end, with a pivoted lug 1'7, and anoperating arm 18 one end of which is pivoted on said anchor plate at thelower end thereof and the opposite end of which arm is pivoted to saidlever at a point located thereon between the ends, thereof.

The, anchor plate 10 of each assembly is secured to the inner face ofthe correspondingarear leg 2 by means of screws 19, the hingebracket 11is secured to the inner face of the side frame members 6 ofthe seatbyscrews 20, and the lugs 15 and 17, are similarly secured respectively tothe inner faces of the cross-pieces 8 and 9 in. the foreleg structure. I

The lever 16 has .a lateral offset 21 adjacent its connection with thehinge bracket 11 (Fig.4) so that sufficient space between the hingebracket and the lever is provided to accommodate the arm when in foldedposition. Also, the link 14, lever 16 and the arm 18 are suitably curvedto permit folding thereof without obstruction.

A locking means is provided for securingthe seat to the forelegstructure when the chair is in extended position for use. An example ofsuch' means is shown in Fig. 2 which consists of a perforated springtongue 22, mounted on a: block 22' in the foreleg structure, whichtongue has latching engagement with a pin 23, that projects from theinner face of the front seat frame member 7,.when the seat rests uponthe foreleg structure, and is disengaged therefrom by means of apush-rod 24 disposed movably in the front seat. frame member 7.

In operation, the seat is released from latched engagement with thetongue by applying pressure to thepush rod, and is then swung upwardlyinto folded position against the back of the chair. Concurrently withthe folding movement of the seat the foreleg structure is drawnbackwardly into folded position beneath the seat and against the rearlegs by action of the lever 16-and the operating arm 18 connectedtherewith, and is guided by the link 14. When the seat is moved fromfolded to extended position the lever is thrust outwardly by theoperating arm causing the foreleg structure, guided by'the link, toassume its proper position for supporting the seat.

Another feature of the invention is that the frame are so disposed as topreclude liability of the fingers to become pinched orclothing to becomewedged between any of the folding parts of the chair structure. r

I claim:

1. In a folding chair, a rigid frame constituting a back and rear legs,a seat, a foreleg structure, and mechanism operatively connecting theseat and foreleg structure with said main frame, said mechanismconsisting of right and left hand assembled groups of members, in eachof which are included an anchor-plate secured to said main frame, ahinge bracket seciu'edto said seat and pivoted on said plate, link andlever members pivotally secured at their ends to said hinge bracket andforeleg structure at points thereon spaced apart, and an arm havingpivot connections at its ends with said plate -and. lever' connection.

2. In a folding chair, a rigid f ame constituting aback and rear legs,aseat provided with means pivotally connecting it with said-frame,aforelegstructure adapted to support said seat when in extendedposition, link. and leveri'members the ends of which arepivotallysecured to said seat and foreleg structure at? points. thereonspacedapart, an arm pivotally connected at its ends with said main frameand lever membertor actuate said lever member when the seat is swungfrom one of its positions to the other" and thereby cause folding orunfolding of said foreleg structure accordingly, and locking means forsecuring said seat and foreleg structure to-- gether' whenlin theirextended position. 1

3; In a folding chair, a rigid frame constituting a back and rear legs,a seat'provided with means pivotally connecting it with said frame, aforeleg structure adapted'to support said seat when in extendedposition, link and lever members the ends of which are pivotally securedto said seat and foreleg structure-at'points thereon-spaced apart, andan arm pivotally connected at its ends with said main frame and levermember to actuate said lever member when the seat is swung from one ofits positions to the other and thereby cause folding or unfolding ofsaid foreleg structure accordingly.

4. In a folding chair having'a rigid frame constitutingv aback and rearlegs, a folding seat, and a folding foreleg structure, two groups ofassembled members connecting said frame, seat and foreleg structure, onefor each side of the chair, each group having an anchor plate attachedto said frame, a bracket hinged to said plate-attached to said seat,lever and link members each pivoted at one end to said bracket andhaving at their opposite ends pivoted members attached to said forelegstructure, and an arm pivotally connected at its opposite endsrespective to said plate and lever member.

5Z ..A-'iolding chair1having a frame constituting awback 'and irearlegs; aseatconnected pivotally in: the framei and. disposed tov foldupwardly againstisaid frame, aforeleg structure, amechanismzdisposedinzeach sideof said chair, each mechanism.including-members connecting said seatzand the forele'glstructure towhich said membersare pivoted at their ends at' correspondingpointsathereonv spacedapart, and a complemental operating. armconnecting said frame and one of said members to which said arm ispivoted respectively at its ends, the members and arnnof each mechanismbeing so arranged 'thati uponaf'oldingthe seatthe foreleg structure ismoved out of contact with said seatand' into folded position againstsaidrear legs, and upon unfoldingth'eseat said foreleg structure is movedinto:=seat supporting; position beneath thefront end ofi'thezseat.

